Abstract: A rail conveyor system combining the low friction attributes of railway transportation with the continuous bulk handling advantages of belt conveyors, uses a multiplicity of spaced carriages running on steel wheels on rail tracks to support a continuous carry belt. The system is driven by various means including a rope extending between the carriages. Various other drive means including drive belt technology are also described along with loading and unloading stations and distributed drive stations.

Abstract: A turn wheel for supporting a tensioned stationary cable through a curved path in a horizontal plane, and for allowing a load advancing along the cable to engage the turn wheel for driving the wheel in rotation relative to the cable, while at the same time the turn wheel continues to support both the cable and the load.

Abstract: An suspended cable amusement ride is disclosed. The cable is supported by turning beam assemblies and moved by turning beam drive assemblies. The turning beam assemblies and turning beam drive assemblies each have multiple sheave wheels supported in brackets along a turning beam. In the turning beam drive assembly the sheave wheels are driven by motors operably attached to the sheave wheels.

Abstract: A terminal of a detachable cable-car with two or more carrier-hauling ropes including bull-wheels located underneath the floor. After the cars have been uncoupled the carrier-hauling ropes run on downward diversion means which direct the ropes towards the bull-wheels. The cars detached from the ropes pass between the diversion wheels to the rear of the terminal.

Abstract: A conveyor system for driverless vehicles includes a channel-shaped track adapted to be mounted in a floor. The track has at least one curved section. Along the inner leg of the curved section, there is provided a polymeric plastic liner which is characterized by a low friction and high abrasion resistance. The liner is adapted to contact a side face of a chain disposed within the track.

Abstract: Motion is imparted to a car (12) by a cable (10) that runs along the length of a guideway (14) in sheaves (22). To accommodate directional changes in the guideway (14), the sheaves (22) are oriented in a range of configurations, including orientations (22C, 22D) above the cable (10). A guiderail (30) is located high on a side of the guideway (14) and imparts guidance to the car (12) via a rail follower (38) on the car. A cable clamp (54) attaches the car (12) to the cable (10) and displaces the cable (10) a large amount from the sheaves (22) to avoid impingement of the clamp (54) and sheaves (22). The cable clamp (54) is disposed so as to occupy the area defined by the rail follower (38). Cable supports (56,56), disposed forward and rearward of the cable clamp (54) displace the cable (10) by a small amount from the sheaves (22) and replace the cable (10) onto the sheaves (22). The cable supports (56,56) are disposed so as to occupy the area defined by the cable as displaced (55) by the cable clamp (54).

Abstract: A cableway-type transportation system has an endless cable looped under tension about two reversing pulleys between which its two substantially parallel runs are supported by sustaining rollers yieldably overlain by retaining rollers. At an intermediate point the two runs are laterally bent in the same direction by respective deflectors lying within the loop plane, namely a first deflector comprising a relatively large pulley inside the loop and a second deflector including an array of relatively small pulleys outside the loop. The latter pulleys are partly overlain by a curved shelf rigid with a vertical web of a guard rail, the corresponding cable run passing normally under that web.

Abstract: A deviation device for laterally deviating the haul rope of a ropeway along a curvature including a revolving carrier, preferably an endless roller chain, which is guided by rails. The part of the roller chain which is situated nearer to the center of curvature follows the proposed curvature of the rope. A plurality of pivotal rope guiding levers, projecting from the roller chain, and provided with support members on their underside, supports the rope laterally in the direction towards the center of curvature and, when a rope grip engages a lever, this lever is displaced upwardly.

Abstract: A passenger carrying vehicle, supported on air cushions in a guideway, is propelled back and forth in that guideway by a cable. A motor is at one end of the guideway and pulls the cable. The cable is part of a closed loop, having two parts, that extend along the same side of the guideway. Rollers, positioned along that side of the guideway, support each length of the cable. In curved portions of the guideway, where the vehicle is turned left or right, the roller that supports that length to which the car is attached is oriented to support the combined horizontal and vertical loads on the cable as the car is pulled around the turn. The vehicle comprises two cabs. These cabs are pivotally interconnected, allowing them to flex or pivot vertically relative to each other and allowing the vehicle to conform to variations in the contour of the guideway, thereby improving the lift characteristics of the air cushions.